In anticipation of doubling current aircraft production levels to approximately 60 G-IVSPs and G-Vs annually by 1999, Gulfstream Aerospace has completed the addition of a 64,000-square-foot aircraft paint facility to its Long Beach, Calif. service center. Painting operations in the new facility are scheduled to begin this month (March, page 16).
Available now from HeliValue$ is the third edition of The Official Helicopter Specification Book, covering more than 125 rotary-wing models from the early 1950s to the present. This 6.5-by- 8.5-inch, 170-page spiral-bound edition provides current technical information and updated pictures. Price: $50. HeliValue$, 985 Jessica Dr., Wauconda, Ill. 60084. (847) 487-8258; fax: (847) 487-0206.
National Air Transportation Association told the FAA that ADs are an "inappropriate vehicle" for providing information about improving safety when flying in icing conditions. NATA's comments were in response to a series of proposed ADs requiring flight manual changes in thousands of aircraft (November, page 17). Airworthiness Directives are "channels to correct specific products with unsafe conditions." The method for solving operational issues should be part of a pilot's training, NATA argues.
Of a total of about 11,400 bird-strike reports in 1994 and 1995, nearly 5,000 indicated no harmful effect, 16 incidents resulted in forced landings and only one caused a fatal crash (March 1995, page 16), according to an ICAO study. The study, based on reports submitted by 45 countries, also found that the majority of impacts occurred below 200 feet agl during the approach and takeoff phases. The windshield and aircraft nose were the most-frequent impact points.
Nav Canada (Ottawa, Ontario)-John Crichton has been named president and CEO, following the resignation of Kenneth Copeland. And Louis R. Comeau was appointed chairman of this corporation that operates Canada's ATC system.
The excitement, the business deals struck and the camaraderie that is the NBAA convention always is counterbalanced by the expense for exhibitors and participants. Exhibitors have always found that "seeing and being seen" at the NBAA convention is part of the cost of doing business and, usually, a boost to business. But this year in Dallas, some grousing was heard about the high cost of such visibility-mainly aimed at the expenses associated with the travel, accommodations, meals, etc. incurred by a high-profile team rather than the cost of booth space.
Legislation to allow FAR Part 135 air charter operators to hire pilots and put them to work for 90 days while conducting the required new-employee background checks passed both houses of Congress in November and was expected to be enacted into law shortly thereafter. The air taxi industry asserts the previous law had been an extreme burden because pilots couldn't be hired until the required airman records were received by the new employer from current or former employers. The process often takes several weeks, according to industry officials (June, page 28).
Seven months from the first announcement of Oriental Falcon Jet, a collaborative charter service between Dassault Falcon Jet and the People's Republic of China, Falcon Jet officials say it is not yet a "go." The company is still waiting for approval from the Chinese government, but does not plan to abandon the joint venture (April, page 10).
The recent addition of Raytheon E-Systems brings to six the number of completion centers that will have access to Boeing's electronic aircraft data on the BBJ. The other five are: K-C Aviation, Jet Aviation Basel, Associated Air Center, Garrett Aviation's The Jet Center and Germany's Lufthansa Technik.
National Air Transportation Association teamed up with Transport Canada to develop a GPS training guide to assist flight instructors in teaching GPS usage. The guide covers how to use GPS receivers for en route navigation as well as for departures, holds and approaches. Copies are available for $20 each. Phone: (703) 845-9000.
Photograph: A forward c.g. reduces ice-contaminated-tailplane stall margin. Securely strapped into the left seat of NASA's Tailplane Icing Program (TIP) de Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter, we set up for a simulated approach to landing. The leading edge of its horizontal stabilizer was disfigured with a carefully crafted artificial ice shape. We slowed the aircraft, incrementally extended the flaps to 30 degrees and reduced power to begin the final descent. We made the usual small, crisp heading and descent rate changes to stay on azimuth and glidepath.
Mechanics training at SimuFlite International are now automatically eligible to participate in the FAA's Aviation Maintenance Technician Awards Program. The program recognizes mechanics who attain established levels of training, as well as companies that have employees in the program. The program, initiated in 1992, involves five phases of training, ranging from Bronze to Diamond, with each phase successively more demanding.
Regional-airline passengers who like the Canadair Regional Jet will love the new 70-seat CRJ-700 series. Major improvements have been made to the cabin that make it much more passenger-friendly. Bombardier unveiled the new cabin mock-up to reporters recently.
Laser tests are scheduled intermittently at the Poker Flat Research Range near Fairbanks, Alaska starting from the surface and projecting up to 60,000 feet msl through June 30, 1998. Laser beams can cause eye injury, and the FAA recommends the area be avoided by at least five miles.
On March 30, 1998, the FAA is scheduled to approve or disapprove a proposed noise compatibility plan for North Carolina's Charlotte/Douglas International Airport. The plan was submitted under FAR Part 150 and the public can comment. For more information, contact the FAA's Thomas M. Roberts in College Park, Ga.; phone: (404) 305-7153.
Most new administrators try to begin their tenure saying things the industry would like to hear. Even so, Jane Garvey's first major policy speech, at a jam-packed Aero Club of Washington luncheon in late October, was a pleasant change. Instead of the never-ending call for more federal regulations on aviation (which marked most of the Clinton administration's first five years), she said the FAA needs to work in collaboration with the industry instead of trying to cudgel it into submission.
The annual General Aviation Industry Awards Program, a joint FAA-industry effort to select a flight instructor and a mechanic of the year, is seeking nominations for this year. Applications should be submitted to the nominee's local FSDO by December 31. The two winners will be honored at the 1998 NBAA annual convention, slated for October 19-21 in Las Vegas. To obtain an application package, phone the NBAA at (202) 783-9000.
Photograph: Announcing the joint venture between Boeing Business Jets and Executive Jet were (from left) Boeing Chairman Phil Condit, BBJ President Borge Boeskov, EJA Chairman Richard Santulli and Chuck Chadwell, executive vice president-GE commercial engines. Boeing, General Electric and Executive Jet have joined forces in a joint venture company that will enable operators to fly in shared Boeing Business Jets beginning in 2000.
Coming soon from AlliedSignal is the AR Series of lightweight, solid-state flight data recorders and cockpit voice recorders. All 10 recorder models in the AR series weigh 10.5 pounds and measure 9.5 inches long, 5.9 inches wide and 6.5 inches high. With U.S. and European certification expected shortly, the cockpit voice recorders ($13,707-$19,999) will enter the marketplace in February 1998, and the flight data recorders ($16,120-$24,140) and combos ($26,647) will be available in June 1998. AlliedSignal Electronics and Avionics, 2525 W. 190 St., Torrance, Calif. 90504.
FAA recently issued Advisory Circular No. 120-69 to guide operators using CD-ROM systems for the keeping of maintenance manuals. In the document, the agency acknowledges the superiority of the CD-ROM format for data retrieval, quality control and speed of distribution. But the FAA cautions that any acceptable CD-ROM system has to deliver information to the user with at least the same degree of accuracy and integrity afforded by a paper or microfilm format.
Pilots training at SimuFlite in Dallas now may attend an optional two-hour course on the fundamentals of GPS technology and flying GPS approaches. The new course is part of the company's Advanced Airmanship Program, which also includes classes on icing and deicing and radar technique.
What are the official noise levels of your aircraft and how do they measure up against other turbine business airplanes? The answers are in an updated advisory circular-AC 36-1G. The publication provides the FAR Part 36 noise levels for all U.S. certificated turbine airplanes and the stage with which the aircraft complies. Another section lists aircraft noise levels ranked in descending order. Copies of AC 36-1G are available from the DOT, Subsequent Distribution Office, Ardmore Business Center, 3341 Q 75th Ave., Landover, Md.
